Winamp has announced a strategic partnership with Deezer that will power a new premium subscription service under the Winamp brand, built into a completely reimagined Winamp Player due in the first half of 2027. The Winamp Deezer partnership pairs Deezer’s white-label streaming technology and global music catalogue with Winamp’s ambition to reinvent the music player for the streaming era, twenty-five years after the original desktop app changed how millions of people listened to digital music.
What the Winamp Deezer Partnership Actually Changes
Under the agreement, Deezer will supply its streaming infrastructure and catalogue so Winamp can launch its own subscription offering, fully integrated into the new Winamp Player as a native experience rather than a bolted-on app. Winamp is explicit that this is not meant to be another conventional streaming platform: the new player will combine premium streaming with a user’s local music library, internet radio stations, podcasts and personal cloud collections in one place, alongside a customizable interface and new social features for discovering and organizing music.
A Reinvented Player, Not Just Another Streaming App
Winamp CEO Alexandre Saboundjian frames the deal as a way to focus on product rather than infrastructure: “This partnership with Deezer gives us access to world-class streaming technology and one of the richest music catalogues in the world, allowing us to focus on what matters most: building a unique Winamp product that brings together everything users want to listen to in one place.” Deezer Chief Commercial Officer Julien Delbourg described the arrangement as building on both companies’ history at earlier turning points for digital music, adding that Deezer’s role is to support Winamp’s vision with its technology, catalogue and audience experience.
The Classic Winamp Player Isn’t Going Away
The Winamp Deezer partnership is designed to extend rather than replace the software people already associate with the brand. Winamp says its legendary desktop player, still actively used by more than 40 million people worldwide, will gain access to the new Winamp-branded, Deezer-powered subscription once the platform launches, rather than being retired in favour of a separate app.
Timeline and Availability
Winamp expects to launch the next-generation player and its Deezer-powered subscription service in the first half of 2027, with further product announcements and previews promised in the coming months. Full pricing for the Winamp-branded subscription has not yet been disclosed. The Winamp Deezer partnership was announced jointly from Brussels and Paris, the respective home bases of Winamp Group and Deezer.
Key Specifications
- Partnership: Winamp Group and Deezer, announced 29 July 2026
- Deezer supplies: white-label streaming technology, global music catalogue
- New Winamp Player: combines streaming, local files, internet radio, podcasts and cloud collections
- Legacy support: classic Winamp desktop player (40M+ active users) gains the new subscription
- Expected launch: H1 2027
- Pricing: not yet announced
